OK I understand that but unless you are a driver and know what questions to ask or how to explain the situation, it is hard for many of us to give good advice or any advice for that matter.
It is best for any truck driver to have a cell phone, preferably a smart phone with internet access. Having internet access is an invaluable tool.
When I was a company driver my company decided to cut their trucks down from 68 mph to 64 and cut the HP from 430 HP to 350. Fine by me. I don't care as long as I don't pay for fuel. Fuel economy dropped from 7 mpg to 4.5 mpg. Anyway, within a week of them putting a beancounter tune to the ECM, the head blew. 119000 miles. I told my DM that I wanted to go home. He wanted me to wait on the truck. I had warned them about cutting the power more than 10% of factory specs, and this is what happens when you beancounters think you know more than me because I'm just a dumb truck driver AND if I am not compensated while the truck is down, I am not waiting on the truck. I will catch the bus home and come back when the truck is repaired. So, my company agreed to pay me $120 a day PLUS the motel. So, I sat in the motel. Got food, got beer, sitting at the pool every day, and hanging out at a bar every night. I was there for so long that I even started to date one of the female barkeeps. For 3.5 weeks! They would call the Dallas Freightliner to see how long it would be and Freightliner would tell them that they have a part coming from Forth Worth. Anyway, point is this: If you have a POS company truck that keeps breaking down, don't sit there quiet like a good little butt kissing employee, SPEAK UP. Keep speaking up. If you get walked on, it's your fault for not speaking up.
At six months experience there are a number of companies that will hire you. Conway Truck Load is one that comes to mind. SRT also known as Southern Refrigerated Transport will hire him right now I believe. Covenant Transport will hire him now as well as USXpress. These are some that come to mind. However, CRST will become a nightmare if he leaves now and they will vigorously go after the monies owed.
Not necessarily so, a medical card is a medical card, good for any employer, but they can still require another but usually won't because they don't want to pay for it. I get the impression that he only had a one year card, if that is true there could be a problem.
Yah, one year for high blood pressure---that is why he is afraid to take another one (from what I understood). And most of the larger companies want a physical done by THEIR facility of choice, so they know the document isn't forged---they can care less if you got a physical the day before orientation....they want THEIRS; and they will be happy to pay for it.
No truer word ever spoken than these. I had a good 2 year card then took this job and had to redo for another 2 year card.
Tell your friend to call back Werner and ask to speak to the Safety department. There are no laws that state that, "when you are calling on a Company about driving opportunities", you must only speak to the Recruiter(s)... Based on the type(s) of questions that I personally ask, it is quite routine for me to call back and speak directly to Safety (if Safety is separate from the Recruiting) and or Payroll. I collect as much information from them as they require of me, before I send in a application let alone committing to their Orientation...